Multi-Service Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MSC UPLIFTS COMMUNITIES BY INCREASING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ADVOCACY, OPPORTUNITIES, AND WELL-BEING.
- Income
- $28.3 million
- Spending
- $26.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 54%
- Employees
- 118
- Volunteers
- 260
- Highest pay
- $232,507, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 65% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $9.7 million spent. ENERGY ASSISTANCE - MSC'S ENERGYASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO KEEP THEIR LIGHTS AND HEAT ON THROUGH THE LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND PUGET SOUND ENERGY PROGRAMS. THEY ALSO PROVIDE ENERGY CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING. 58,447 BENEFITS WERE PAID OUT TO VENDORS TO HELP 33,456 HOUSEHOLDS WITH THEIR ENERGY COSTS: GAS, ELECTRIC, PROPANE, OIL, WOOD. DUE TO MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES, SOME HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED MORE THAN ONE BENEFIT. AN ADDITIONAL 48 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED ENERGY EDUCATION AND OTHER RESOURCE NAVIGATION SERVICES, AND 12 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED LAKEHAVEN FUNDING, MAKING THE GRAND TOTAL SERVED 33,516 HOUSEHOLDS. - $30,486,203 WAS PAID DIRECTLY TO ENERGY VENDORS ON BEHALF OF FAMILIES TO HELP KEEP LIGHTS ON AND HOMES WARM. - 2,133 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED STATE'S HELP WITH THEIR ENERGY BILL THROUGH SHEAP PROGRAM, AND $1,748,871 WAS PAID DIRECTLY TO THEIR HEATING ENERGY VENDORS ON BEHALF OF FAMILIES. - 86% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS INCREASED THEIR FUEL VENDOR CREDIT RATING AS A RESULT OF BENEFITS PAID. - 48 HOUSEHOLDS (12 UNDUPLICATED HOUSEHOLDS) RECEIVED HELP WITH THEIR WATER BILL THROUGH LAKEHAVEN UTILITY. - 457 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED A PORTABLE AC UNIT (THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO PURCHASE AC UNITS WAS $282,571.61). THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE DEPARTMENT HAS SERVED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SINCE THE PANDEMIC DUE TO INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE PSE HELPS ONLINE APPLICATION PROGRAM, AND ALSO DUE TO THE PSE HELPS AMI RANGE EXPANDING TO INCREASE CUSTOMER ELIGIBILITY.
- $4.0 million spent. NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE MSC'S FOOD BANK PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD TO RESIDENTS OF THE FEDERAL WAY SCHOOL DISTRICT. EMERGENCY BAGS AND STREET BAGS ARE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM. THE FOOD BANK OFFERS A HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO FACE CHALLENGES PHYSICALLY VISITING THE FOOD BANK.- 5,653 HOUSEHOLDS VISITED OUR FOOD BANK FOR MARKET-STYLE FOOD DISTRIBUTION, RESULTING IN A TOTAL OF 40,688 VISITS. - 533 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED WITH 15,982 HOME DELIVERIES. - 1,249 HOUSEHOLDS UTILIZING THE FOOD BANK AND 175 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE FOOD BRIDGE PROGRAM WERE SERVED BY OUR 2024 HOLIDAY FOOD PROGRAM. - 1,612,201 POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED, INCLUDING BREAD, DAIRY, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, MEAT AND CANNED GOODS. - 445 CARE BAGS WERE DISTRIBUTED, PRIMARILY TO HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. - BABY CORNER: PROVIDED 333 HOUSEHOLDS WITH 1,925 DIAPER AND/OR FORMULA SERVICE UNITS.- FOOD BRIDGE: 7,393 DELIVERIES OF EMERGENCY FOOD WERE MADE TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS BY 42 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTING 3,289.75 HOURS OF SERVICE. MOST OF THE FOOD BRIDGE CUSTOMERS SERVED WERE AGED 65 AND OLDER. - THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF OVER 50 POUNDS OF FOOD PER VISIT. TOTAL IN-KIND FOOD VALUE WAS $3,482,354.16 AT $2.16 PER POUND OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED.
- $5.6 million spent. ECONOMIC STABILITY MSC'S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT. HOUSING ASSISTANCE INCLUDES PERMANENT, TRANSITIONAL, AND EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS. HOUSING SERVICES: - WILLIAM J WOOD VETERANS HOUSE. 48 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED IN PERMANENT HOUSING WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AT THE WILLIAM J WOOD VETERANS HOUSE. OF THE 9 EXITING HOUSEHOLDS, 66% EXITED TO OTHER PERMANENT HOUSING. OUT OF 40 HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST 2 SELF-SUFFICIENCY MATRIX ASSESSMENTS, 87% IMPROVED IN ONE OR MORE LIFE DOMAINS. LIFE DOMAINS IN THE ANALYSIS INCLUDE HOUSING, INCOME/BENEFITS, MENTAL HEALTH, LEGAL, MOBILITY, AND COMMUNITY. STAFF MET WITH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, ASKING DETAILED QUESTIONS TO UNDERSTAND HOW PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RESPOND AND ASSESS THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY AS A RESULT OF THEIR OWN RESILIENCY AND STAFF SUPPORT. - BURIEN VETERANS HOUSE. 17 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED AT THE BURIEN VETS HOUSE. OF THE 12 EXITING INDIVIDUALS, 66% EXITED TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND 8% MOVED ON TO OTHER TEMPORARY HOUSING SITUATIONS. OUT OF 5 RESIDENTS WHO COMPLETED AT LEAST 2 SELF-SUFFICIENCY MATRIX ASSESSMENTS, 60% IMPROVED IN ONE OR MORE LIFE DOMAINS. LIFE DOMAINS IN THE ANALYSIS INCLUDE HOUSING, INCOME/BENEFITS/EMPLOYMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, LEGAL, MOBILITY, AND SUBSTANCE USE. STAFF MET WITH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, ASKING DETAILED QUESTIONS TO UNDERSTAND HOW PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RESPOND AND ASSESS THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY AS A RESULT OF THEIR OWN RESILIENCY AND STAFF SUPPORT. - TITUSVILLE STATION. 18 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED AT TITUSVILLE SRO AND E SIDE APARTMENTS. OF THE 4 EXITING HOUSEHOLDS, 75% EXITED TO PERMANENT HOUSING. TITUSVILLE HAS BEEN UNDERGOING BUILDING UPDATES AND A KITCHEN REMODEL TO CREATE A MORE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE PLACE FOR RESIDENTS TO WORK ON THEIR RECOVERY AND FOUNDATION BUILDING. - SHELTER. 21 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED SHELTER SERVICES THROUGH MSC. OF THE 7 EXITING HOUSEHOLDS, 43% EXITED TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND 14% EXITED TO OTHER TEMPORARY HOUSING SITUATIONS. OUT OF 3 HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST 2 SELF-SUFFICIENCY MATRIX ASSESSMENTS, 66% IMPROVED IN ONE OR MORE LIFE DOMAINS. LIFE DOMAINS IN THE ANALYSIS INCLUDE HOUSING, INCOME/BENEFITS/EMPLOYMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, LEGAL, CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY. STAFF MET WITH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, ASKING DETAILED QUESTIONS TO UNDERSTAND HOW PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RESPOND AND ASSESS THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY AS A RESULT OF THEIR OWN RESILIENCY AND STAFFSUPPORT. - REGIONAL ACCESS POINT (RAP). 32 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED WITH DIVERSION ASSISTANCE DURING THIS TIME AND AS A RESULT, PLACED INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE RAP TEAM CONDUCTS OUTREACH IN 4 SOUTH KING COUNTY CITIES AT COMMUNITY CENTERS, DAY CENTERS, AND LIBRARIES. DURING THE REPORTING TIMEFRAME, THE RAP TEAM COMPLETED THE HOUSING TRIAGE TOOL WITH 317 HOUSEHOLDS. - VETERAN NAVIGATION PROGRAM. 14 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED IN A NEW VETERAN NAVIGATION PROGRAM WHICH BEGAN SERVING CUSTOMERS IN MARCH 2025. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING NAVIGATION AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES TO VETERAN HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS. OF THE 2 EXITING HOUSEHOLDS, 100% OBTAINED PERMANENT HOUSING. SEVERAL OTHER HOUSEHOLDS WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR CURRENT HOUSING AND/OR ACHIEVE OTHER GOALS. COMMUNITY NAVIGATION: DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, 92 HOUSEHOLDS AND 245 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR INQUIRIES REGARDING BOTH MSC AND OTHER EXTERNAL PROGRAMS. IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD, 48% OF THE INDIVIDUALS SERVED IDENTIFIED SPECIFICALLY AS HISPANIC AND 87% OF THE TOTAL INDIVIDUALS SERVED IDENTIFIED AS A RACIAL CATEGORY OTHER THAN WHITE. RENTAL & EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SUPPORT 680 INDIVIDUALS / 279 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SUPPORT FROM MSC STAFF, INCLUDING 255 RENTAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS. 12 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED WITH OTHER TYPES OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, SUCH AS UTILITY ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS AND MOTEL VOUCHERS. EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION: - OPEN DOORS OUT OF 24 EXITING SCHOLARS, 12 OR 50% GRADUATED WITH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA EQUIVALENCY. - BASIC FOOD, EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING (BFET) PROGRAM OUT OF 53 EXITING PARTICIPANTS, 15 OR 28% OBTAINED EMPLOYMENT. 65% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS SERVED IDENTIFIED AS REFUGEES OR IMMIGRANTS AND 28% SPOKE A PRIMARY LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH. TENANT CONNECT: 55 INDIVIDUALS / 39 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS HOUSING, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, EVICTION PREVENTION, CHILDCARE, FOOD, AND EMPLOYMENT. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: 145 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED RESOURCES AND 533 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED WITH 15,982 HOME DELIVERIES.
- $3.1 million spent. LONG TERM CARE MSC'S LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF RESIDENTS OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON.- 2,489 COMPLAINTS WERE INVESTIGATED ON BEHALF OF 1,340 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE.- 77.3% OF COMPLAINTS WERE RESOLVED TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE RESIDENT OR THE COMPLAINANT.- 6,303 ROUTINE VISITS WERE MADE TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES BY VOLUNTEERS.- 22,990 CONSULTATIONS WERE PROVIDED TO LONG-TERM CARE PROVIDERS AND CONSUMERS (INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE).- 140 VOLUNTEERS DONATED 15,553 HOURS OF THEIR TIME VISITING RESIDENTS, RECEIVING AND RESOLVING COMPLAINTS, AND PROVIDING INFORMATION AND EDUCATION RELATED TO LONG-TERM CARE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.